Article, comprising rigid planar parts assembled at an angle

ABSTRACT

First and second panel members each formed with an elongate slot extending from one edge of the panel member and an enlarged opening into which the slot extends are connected together at an angle by sliding the slot of one of the panel members lengthwise through the slot and opening of the other panel member and into embracing engagement with material of the other panel member beyond the opening therein until the openings of the respective panels are mutually aligned in the lengthwise direction of the slots. A locking key device having substantial rigidity lengthwise of the slots is fitted in the openings when the panels are assembled to prevent their separation. The locking device may be provided in various decorative forms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to articles such as items of furniture,packaging elements, lightweight partitions, and the like, comprised ofplanar parts assembled perpendicularly (or substantiallyperpendicularly, with the angles between them being unequalsupplementary angles).

It has long been known to assemble two pieces each one of which has aslot of length one half that of the piece, whereby after the two slotsare mutually engaged the pieces are fitted together from interlockingwith their end faces being coplanar.

This trivial assembly is known as a rebated joint (in French, a "halftimber joint"). When assembled, each slot is directed toward the solidmember of the opposing piece, and the bottoms of the slots areessentially disposed against each other. Refinements of this basicarrangement are also known--in particular, arrangement of the assembledpieces at an angle other than a right angle.

There is also known (PCT OS No. WO-A-84/00024) an assembly whichincludes locking means for the pieces after they are engaged, such meansbeing namely a rigid "key". The pieces themselves must be flexible so asto be able to elastically deform to enable the rigid key to be forciblyintroduced.

Fr. Pat. No. 2,049,386 describes a construction assembly comprised ofmembers having slots of complex shapes, enabling a "rebated joint"assembly with two different orientations, perpendicular or oblique. Theslots in these members have openings in them which are disposed inplanes parallel to the plane of the corresponding slot. These openingsare intended to receive locking pins which are inserted by sliding.These pins must necessarily have a thickness less than that of theaforesaid assembled members, because the pins run parallel to thesurface planes of the respective members.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,529,759 describes a structure comprised of crossbeamsand of uprights assembled by means very similar to those described inFr. Pt. No. 2,049,386 discussed supra except that only orthogonalassembly is provided for. What is important to note is that the slots ofthe classical "rebated joint" assembly according to the U.S. Pat. areassociated with openings each of which accommodates a locking rod whichmust extend in a plane parallel to the surface planes of the respectiveassembled pieces.

The present invention is entirely different from these concepts, andnotably it employs locking keys which may be esthetic as well asutilitarian, which keys are visible in the assembled condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an article such as an item of furniture, whichwhen unassembled comprises at least two pieces having rectilinear slotswhich engage one another (by mutual insertion) to achieve an orthogonalassembly of the said pieces; characterized in that the said pieces arein the form of panels which are relatively thin with respect the lengthand width of their two major faces, which panels have openings passingthrough them from one major face to the other, wherewith the said slotsopen out into said openings from one side of the latter, whereby afterthe engagement (mutual insertion) the slots are disposed beyond theopenings which they have passed over lit., "they traverse", and eachslot is disposed at right angles with and across a solid part of theother piece which solid part is disposed opposite to the slot on thesaid other piece, i.e. across the respective opening from said slot, andwherewith after said engagement the openings in the two panels arealigned and adapted to receive a locking key having the same height asthe openings, which key is to extend in said openings and be supportedon the two opposing sides of said openings which sides do not have slotsin them, and which key is relatively rigid in its height dimension so asto prevent the slots from being moved back through the said openings,which movement would result in the disengagement of the slots and theseparation of the pieces.

According to other characteristics i.e., refinements of the invention:

Each panel may be attached to a plate disposed in the opening, whichplate has the same height as the opening and is pivotally mounted on apivot with an axis parallel to that of the slot, which pivot is disposedoutside of said opening, wherewith the said plate itself has a slotwhich is aligned with the slot of the panel and which extends to thecenter of the said plate (which is also the center of the said opening);

The locking key may be comprised of an elastically deformable material;

The locking key may be comprised of a central, rigid core which issurrounded by an elastically deformable material such as a syntheticfoam material;

The shape of the locking key may be such that the key is rigid in itsheight dimension and is elastically deformable in directions (planes)perpendicular to the height dimension;

The locking key may be a tubular element comprised of a semi-flexiblematerial, and intended to be placed in the openings with its virtualaxis parallel to that of the slots;

The tubular element may have grooves extended to cooperate with the sidefaces of the slots;

Each opening in the panels may be circular, and the locking key may bein the form of a spherical element which is substantially rigid andwhich has two rectilinear grooves which are parallel and are symmetricalwith respect to a diameter of the spherical element, wherewith thebottoms of the grooves are separated by a distance which is generallyequal to the width of one of the slots.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the followingdetailed description presented with reference to the attached drawings.The description and drawings are offered only by way of example, and donot limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of an inventive piece, e.g. forfurniture, according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an inventive assembly of twopieces of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a locking key which is avariant of that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation of an inventive piece, according to asecond embodiment;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic elevations of a locking key adapted forassembling two pieces of the type shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation showing an assembly accomplished withtwo pieces of the type of that of FIG. 3 and with a locking key of thetype of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation of an inventive piece according to athird embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly of two pieces ofthe type shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an article (such as anitem of furniture), or a packaging element, or a partition or the like,which is assembled by interpenetration of at least two pieces (1,2) ofthe type shown in FIG. 1, which are panels or the like having thicknessx which is small in relation to the length y and width z of the majorfaces of the piece.

Each piece 1-2 has a rectilinear slot 3 which is perpendicular to theplanes of the major faces 4 and 5, which slot extends from an edge 6 andopens out in an opening 7 which passes through the piece from one majorface 4 to the other major face 5. The opening 7 has a rectangular shape.The two pieces 1 and 2 are assembled by mutually inserting the slots 3of the two pieces (1,2) into each other, whereby each of said slotspasses through the respective other piece's opening 7 and becomespositioned beyond said opening so as to engage the solid parts 8adjacent to the edge 9 which edge is opposite to the slotted edge 6which defines the outer end of slot 3.

The openings 7 of the pieces 1 and 2 are aligned at this stage. In orderto immobilize them, a locking key is placed in the two openings 7. Thiskey should be rigid with respect to the direction parallel to the axisof the slots 3.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that such a key may be comprised of a tubularelement 10 comprised of an elastically deformable material. Such atubular element 10 is substantially rigid with respect to its heightdimension H parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the slots 3, butis elastically deformable perpendicularly to said dimension. In this wayit is possible to insert element 10 laterally into the two alignedopenings 7 by necessarily deforming said element 10, since the pieces 1and 2 are rigid. The key being rigid in its height dimension H, it canbe supported against the two opposing nonslotted edges 11 and 12 of theopenings 7, with greater or lesser play (depending on the differencebetween the height H of the key 10 and the distance between the edges 11and 12 when pieces 1 and 2 are assembled). Thus, key 10 acts in themanner of a wedge or crosspiece to oppose the disengagement of theengaged slots 3 and thereby to prevent the separation of the pieces 1and 2.

It is noted that the openings 7 are aligned according to the invention,that the slots 3 are disposed at an angle to each other, and that thekey 10 is visible over its entire periphery except across the thicknessof the pieces 1 and 2. Thus, this key 10 can be made to play a visualrole beyond its functional role, whereby it adds esthetically to theappearance of the assembly. In this connection, pieces 1 and 2 may beprovided in a certain material and/or color, with the key 10 being of amaterial and/or color which contrasts with these visually.

The key 10 of the type just described is cylindrical, and can thus berotated. If, on the other hand, it is desired for the key to benon-rotatable, it may be provided with grooves 13 (Fig. 3) whichcooperate with the edges 14 and 15 of the openings 7, which edges areparallel to the slots 3.

It is noted that the grooves 13 also provide substantial holding ofpieces 1 and 2 by way of the sides of said grooves, to ensure goodperpendicular alignment of said pieces; and said grooves therebycontribute to the rigidity of the assembly.

Since the key 10 of FIG. 3 is tubular and flexible, it is installed inthe manner described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, namely bydeforming it and inserting it laterally into the aligned openings 7.

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate an embodiment according to which the pieces 21and 22 are of the same general type as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, namely the pieces comprise relatively thin panels having a slot 23perpendicular to the plane of the major faces 24 and 25. The slots 23extend from an edge 26 to a circular opening 27.

The pieces are assembled by mutually inserting the slots 23 until eachslot is disposed beyond the opening 27 of the other piece, and isdisposed spanning the solid part 28 opposite the slot 23.

The assembled pieces 21 and 22 are immobilized by means of a key 30comprised of a spherical element having two parallel grooves 31 and 32which are parallel to and symmetrical with respect to a diameter D ofthe sphere. The bottoms 33 and 34 of grooves 31 and 32 are separated bya distance d which is generally equal to the width L of the slots 23.The width 1 of the grooves 31 and 32 is (except for slight play) equalto the thickness x of the pieces 21 and 22.

For the immobilization of the pieces 21 and 22 after assembly, the key30 is placed in the opening of one of the pieces, with the grooves 31and 32 being in a plane perpendicular to that of the large faces 24 and25. The slot 23 of the second said piece is then engaged with the firstsaid piece, and the second said piece is caused to slide such that theside faces 23a of its slot pass into the grooves 31 and 32 of the key30. The opening 27 of the second said piece is at that stage disposedacross the key 30. The key is then turned so that the grooves 31 and 32extend perpendicularly to the planes of the two pieces 21 and 22.Thereby one obtains a locking effect, by bracing or wedging means, ofthe opposed openings 27 of the two engaged pieces 21 and 22.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a third embodiment, according to which thepieces 41 and 42 are of the same type as that of FIGS. 1 and 2, and havea rectangular opening 47. The essential difference is that the lockingkey is not separate and independent as described supra, but results fromthe cooperation of two plates which are pivotably attached to therespective pieces, as will be described infra.

Opening 47 contains a solid plate 44 having a slot 45 and mounted on apivot 46 mounted in the interior of the piece. It is seen that thismounting enables plate 44 to be pivoted around the pivot 46, withrespect to the piece 41 or 42.

In the assembly process, care is taken to place the plate 44 or eachpiece 41, 42 in the plane of the piece, whereby the slot 45 constitutesa continuation of the slot 43. The slots 43 of the two pieces areinserted one in the other, and the sliding engagement of the said piecesis continued in the slots 45, which also are inserted one in the other,with the openings 47 being eventually aligned vertically. The plates 44are thus joined together whereby they both pivot around the same axis,since the pivots 46 of the two plates 44 are coaxial. They are thenpivoted together, as shown in FIG. 9, arrow F1. This pivoting is carriedout through 90 degrees, namely until the plates 44 are again in theplanes of the respective pieces (41, 42), with each plate 44 being inthe plane of the opposite piece (41, 42), namely the plate 44 attachedto piece 41 being in the plane of piece 42, and the plate 44 attached topiece 42 being in the plane of piece 41. In this way retraction andseparation of the pieces is rendered impossible. In order to effectretraction of the pieces 41 and 42, the plates 44 must be pivoted by 90degrees again (clockwise or counterwise), until the plate 44 attached topiece 41 is in the plane of piece 41, and the plate 44 attached to piece42 is in the plane of piece 42. The slots 45 and 43 of a givenpiece-and-plate structure are thus again aligned, and the pieces can beslid apart, one with respect to the other.

It is seen in the above description that the key is in the form of abrace or wedge member, and that said key must be substantially rigid inits active direction parallel to the axis of the slots of the pieces. Inthe transverse plane, the key should be flexible and elasticallydeformable, if its contour is wider than that of the openings asaligned. Thus, the key may be in the form of a simple blocking rod,which is narrower, than the openings as aligned. But, if one is to takeadvantage of the presence of the key to provide a decorative element,the rigid key may be invested with a flexible material such as asynthetic foam material. In the case of very high flexibility, theadornment may take on all sorts of shapes, providing a flexibility whichis incompatible with prior solutions to the inventive problem.

Whatever the particular embodiment chosen, the key can be given anappearance which contrasts with that of the pieces, in color or inmaterial of manufacture. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 8-9, theplates 44 may be given an appearance different from that of the pieces41 and 42.

It should be noted that the embodiment of FIGS. 4-7 envisions a key inthe form of a spherical body, which can play the role of a hinge means,where, after the assembly is completed, the key is attached to one ofthe pieces, so that they can pivot with respect to the other piece. Thepiece attached to the key may be the pivotable piece (e.g. a furnituredoor), while the other piece remains stationary (e.g. the frame of anitem of furniture).

With the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the tubular key may be provided intransparent or translucent form and may contain a source of light, suchas an electric light bulb or tube. The pieces then constitute a lampbody. One may provide zones of the key which create different lightingeffects, and then by rotating the key the zone or zones producing thedesired effect (e.g., intense lighting, filtered lighting, coloredlighting, etc.) may be exposed.

The use of the invention is not confined to the manufacture of furniture(in particular, finished furniture items). The invention may also beused for toys which can be disassembled; for construction assemblies;etc.

We claim:
 1. An article which comprises two pieces having rectilinearslots which engage one another by mutual insertion to achieve an angularassembly of the said pieces; characterized in that the said pieces arein the form of rigid nondeformable panels which are relatively thin withrespect to the length and width of their two major faces, which panelshave openings passing through them from one major face to the other,wherewith the said slots open out into said openings from one side ofthe latter, portions of the slots being disposed beyond the openingswhich they have passed over across a solid part of the other piece whichsolid part is disposed opposite to the slot on the said other piece,across the respective opening from said slot on the said other piece,the two panels being aligned and the article further including a lockingkey having the same height as the openings, which key is fitted in saidopenings and supported on two opposing sides of said openings whichsides do not have slots in them, and which key is rigid andnon-deformable in its height dimension lengthwise of the slots so as toprevent the slots from being moved back through the said openings, whichmovement would result in the disengagement of the slots and theseparation of the pieces.
 2. An article according to claim 1;characterized in that each panel is attached to a plate disposed in therespective opening, which plate constitutes said locking key, hassubstantially the same height as the opening and is pivotably mounted ona pivot with an axis parallel to that of the respective slot, whichpivot is disposed outside of said opening, and the said plate itself hasa slot which is aligned with the slot of the panel and which extends tothe center of the said plate which is also the center of the saidopening.
 3. An article according to claim 1 characterized in that thelocking key has a contour which is wider than the contour of theopenings as aligned, and said key is comprised of an elasticallydeformable material.
 4. An article according to claim 1 characterized inthat the locking key is comprised of a central, rigid core which issurrounded by an elastically deformable material.
 5. An articleaccording to claim 1 characterized in that the configuration of thelocking key is such that the key is rigid in its height dimension and iselastically deformable in directions perpendicular to the heightdimension.
 6. An article according to claim 5 characterized in that thelocking key is a tubular element with a longitudinal axis comprised of asemi-flexible material, and is placed in the openings with its axisparallel to that of the slots.
 7. An article according to claim 6characterized in that the tubular element has grooves intended tocooperate with the side faces of the slots.
 8. An article according toclaim 1 characterized in that each opening in the panels is circular,and the locking key is in the form of a spherical element which issubstantially rigid and which has two rectilinear grooves which areparallel and are symmetric with respect to a diameter of the sphericalelement, wherewith the bottoms of the grooves are separated by adistance which is generally equal to the diameter of the openings.
 9. Anassembly of rigid non-deformable panel members mutually angled one toanother comprising first and second panel members each formed with anelongate slot extending from one edge of the panel member and anenlarged opening into which the slot extends, the slots and openings inthe respective panel members having like dimensions whereby the panelmembers are connectable together at an angle by sliding the slot of oneof the panel members lengthwise through the slot and opening of theother panel member and into embracing engagement with the material ofthe other panel member beyond the opening therein until the openings ofthe respective panel members are mutually aligned in the lengthwisedirection of the slots, the assembly further including a locking keydevice for fitting in the openings when the openings are aligned asaforesaid, the locking key device having substantial non-deformablerigidity in the lengthwise direction of the slots to prevent separationof the panels when the locking key device is fitted in the openings. 10.An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the openings are rectangularand the locking key device is cylindrical being elastically deformablein a direction transversely of the length of the slots.
 11. An assemblyas claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking key device has lengthwisegrooves for receiving edge portions of the respective panels definingthe respective openings.
 12. An assembly as defined in claim 9 whereinthe openings are circular and the locking key device is spherical withopposed grooves for receiving opposite edge portions of one of thepanels defining the opening therein.
 13. An assembly as defined in claim9 wherein each panel includes a pivotal slotted plate mounted in theopening, the plates of the respective panels being configured forslotting one into the other when the panels are assembled, and forrotation as a unit to form the locking key device.